A No Stress Drive to NYC

I don't mind driving to NYC. I don't even mind driving in NYC. Of course, that's because I grew up there. But I must say the drivers are incredibly rude. So a no stress drive to NYC is not an oxymoronic statement to me. Anytime anyone is up for a roadie to the city, let me know.I did get off four hours later than I intended; a record for running late, even for me.
First, there was a two hour delay due to lingering ice. So I was rested for the trip. But I still managed to not have it all together to leave directly from dropping off Nicole at school.

My errands included stopping by the middle school to search for forgotten tap shoes at the dance recital on December 13th, going to the bank, filling up the gas tank and visiting one of the locations we are considering for one of our couple's dinner events. And a bathroom break at each location due to the pot of coffee I foolishly drank before getting on the road.

There was snow on the way, trucks that travel too fast for any one's safety and good CD's to listen to. I also caught up on some phone calls from my "mobile office."

Upon arriving in NYC I parked, unloaded, loaded my mom and her two parakeets up and got out as fast as I could. In fact, my turnaround time was less than half an hour. Nicole was grumbling the whole time because she thought there should have been an obligatory trip to the American Girl Doll Store, despite just receiving a new one for Christmas. No go. I didn't even get to Zabar's,my favorite gourmet food shop only four blocks away from my parent's apartment.

It is nice to have my mom here; she loves her new room, and the new office is shaping up nicely. It was a lovely stress free day, complete with a quick stop at the Tannersville Outlets on the way home where the Under armour Outlet actually excited me more than Chicos. More pink exercise attire, what could be better!

Cheers.

Why Did I Open My Big Mouth?

I was going to go to New York City tomorrow. But I changed my mind. In an effort to be open and communicative with all parties involved (my mom who is going back to NY and would get a ride, and my daughters who would be affected by my after school absence) I had somewhat of a monologue about the pros and cons of driving to the city and mused out loud, in fact just loud enough for Nicole to hear, that maybe she would make a decent travel companion. What on earth was I thinking?

She jumped all over that one, imagining a field trip to the American Girl Doll store. Does that count as an educationally excused absence? I am taking my daughter out of school for a day because it is easier than lining up after school rides and it can be counted as an excused absence. A bit of a stretch...I agree. So just as quickly as I mused about the possibility of taking her with me, I decided, also out loud that it wouldn't be a good idea, but it was too late. She had made up her mind she was coming along, even though I had decided I wasn't going.

There were a couple of reasons I had entertained driving to the city. One is my mom is ready to go home (I hate to say this, but I am also ready for her to go home) and a neighbor is part of a group art show that is opening tomorrow and her mentor is a friend of my dad's. So my dad said, "Why don't you come in?" and in a moment of advance spontaneity I agreed. Why do these decisions that involve several hours in the car, a late night drive home, $$ gas and then the added insistence of a road trip to the American Girl doll store always sound better weeks ahead of time? When will I learn?

We just got back from VA at about two this morning and about the last thing I want to do is drive another six hours tomorrow. All of a sudden it didn't seem like such a good idea. Not to mention the fact that it would be dark and late returning home. My mom agreed to take the bus and all of a sudden I was several hour and dollars in the plus.

Then there was the Nicole factor. Her persistence in talking about the NYC road trip and not dropping it earned her an early ticket to bed. Boy when she wants something, she wants it NOW! But I explained the sagging economy and the fact that if we were going to really enjoy NYC then we needed more than three hours. I think it finally registered. Now she's only asking if we can go this weekend...to which I also said "no" but I did promise that we would go sometime...and have a good time. On a day there isn't school and when gas has gone down maybe another 50 cents a gallon.